Welcome to the Music Department, part of Southwestern’s Sarofim School of Fine Arts. Dedicated to providing a robust and rigorous approach to the field of musical study and performance, the Southwestern Music Department combines serious musical education with the depth and richness of a traditional liberal arts curriculum.
Whether it’s the exploration of music theory, the study of ancient or modern musical forms, the chance to play solo or in an ensemble, or teaching students of all ages in the classroom, the Southwestern University Department of Music strives to provide the widest possible range of musical opportunities for students.
The Music Department offers two degrees, the Bachelor of Arts with a major in Music, and the Bachelor of Music with five possible concentrations: Education, Literature, Performance, Sacred Music and Theory/Composition. A minor in Music may also be obtained.
To pursue a degree in music, students must audition/interview. Most students do this prior to enrolling at Southwestern. But if you decide to major in music after enrolling at Southwestern, you can audition once you are here.
We are fortunate to have scholarships available to music majors. Performance awards are also available to select non-music majors who perform in one of the school’s large musical ensembles.
Our music faculty members are dedicated educators, and have national and international recognition as scholars and performers. These experiences, as well as years in the classroom and studio, help them prepare students for a number of career paths, including placement in quality graduate programs; careers in teaching and performance; teaching in elementary and secondary schools; and positions as church musicians.
Latest News and Events
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Southwestern student makes a major musical discovery -
rediscovered Mendelssohn piece to be performed at Southwestern on Saturday, February 21st -
Michael Cooper, associate professor of music, published the premier edition of the first complete version of Mendelssohn’s secular cantata Die erste Walpurgisnacht (The first Walpurgis night) as part of the series “Recent Researches Concerning the Music of the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries” (Madison, Wisconsin; A-R Editions), based on a 1799 ballad by Goethe. The edition is based on manuscripts held in Cracow, Paris, Berlin and Oxford.
